Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1887-07-29
How TO Act at a Fire.

now purpose in the most concise
way possible, giving some simple di-
rections how to act on the occurrence
of fires. Fire requires air; therefore,
on its appearance every effort should
be made to exclude air. shut all the
doors and windows. BY this means
fire can be confined TO single room
for sufficient period to enable all the
inmates to be aroused and escape; but
il tho doors and windows are thrown
open, the tanning of the wind and the
draught will instantly cause the flames
to increase with extraordinary rapid
ity. 1t must never be forgotten that
the most precious moments are at the
commencement of fire, and not a
single second of time should be lost in
tackling it. In n room, tablecoth can
be so used as to smother largos heet of
flame, and a cushion may serve to beat
it out; coat or anything similar may
be used with an equally-suceessful re-
suit. The great point is presence of
mind; calmness III danger, action,
guided by reason and thought. In all
large houses buckets Of water should
be placed on every landing, little salt
being put into the water. Always en-
deavor to attack the bed OF fire; if
YOU cannot eXtinguish fire, shut the
window, and be sure to shut the door
when making good your retreat A
wet silk handkerchief tied over the
eyes and nose will make breathing
possible in the midst of much smoke,
and blanket wetted and wrapped
round the body will enable person to
pass through a sheet of flame in COM
parative safety. Should lady's dress
catch fire. let the wearer ut once lie
down; rolling may eXtinguish the fire,
but if not, ANYTHING (woolen preferred)
wrapped tightly around will effect the
desired purpose A burn becomes less
painful the moment air is excluded
from it. For simple burns, oil or
the white of egg can be used. One
part of carbolic acid to six parts of
olive oil is found 10 be invaluable in
most cases, slight or severe, and the
first layer Of lint should not be re-
moved till the cure is complete, but
saturated by the application of fresh
outerlavers from time to time. Linen
rag soaked in Il mixture of equal parts
of lime water and linsced oil also forms
4 good dressing Common whiting is
very good applied wet and continually
damped with sponge.
The st. John Ambulance Association
advise the following to restore breath
ing To clear the throat, place the patient
on the floor or ground with the face
downwards, fold one of the arms so
that the forehead may rest upon the
forearm, in which position all fluids or
smoke will more reatiiiy escape by the
mouth, and the tongue itself VIII fall for
ward leaving the entrance to the wind
pipe free. ASSIST this operation by
wiping and cleansing the month. To
excite breathing turn the patent well
and instantly on the side, supporting
his head on his forearm and excite the
nostrils with snuff, hartshorn and
or tickle the thoat with
a feather, etc, If they are at hand. Rub
the chest and face warm, and dash
cold water, or cold and hot water alter
nately, on them. To initiate breathing,
draw the tengue out and keep it out by
means of an Gl9stic band passing over
1t and around tia. chin. Replace the
patient on his face. "a sing and support
ing his chest we'll ON afolded coat or
other article of dress. Turn the body
very gently on the side and little be-
yond, and then briskly back again on
to the face, repeating these measures
cautiously, efficiently and perscrvering-
" about fifteen times to the minute, or
once every four seconds, occasionally
varying the side. On each occasion
that the body is replaced on the face,
make uniform but efficient pressure.
with brisk movement on the back, be-
tween and below the shoulder blades
Or bones on each side, removing the
pressure immed ately before turning the
body on the side. By placing the
patient on the chest the weight of the
body forces tho air out when turned
On the side this pressure is removed,
md air enters the chest During
he whole Of the operation, let one per-
'on attend solely 10 the movements of
jhe head and arm placed under it. "A. |
w. c. Shean, before The Society If
Arts.